 He was injured in his first league game for the club, and had a hard time forcing his way back into the starting line-up.He was asked to take a more attacking approach by manager Juan Ramón López Muñiz, and soon reasserted himself in the first team.In a 24 January 2010 away match against Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo broke Mtiliga's nose by hitting him in the face with his elbow.